Begley is the administrative assistant for City Manager Doug Adkins and has been a city employee for the past nine years, according to Shelby Quinlivan, city communications coordinator. Her current annual salary is $54,189.

Begley was placed on paid administrative leave July 11 pending an internal investigation and court actions, according to Quinlivan.

Both women told police they were making an even exchange of merchandise purchased online and insisted they were not stealing, according to a police report obtained by the Journal-News.

Begley “insisted that acts interpreted by store security as attempts to conceal what they were doing and the bag during check out were innocent actions,” according to the police report.